Spurs stop Durant and the Thunder, 95-87

Two nights, two streaks ended. After all the fun and joy we had the past week and half, these last two days were a bit of a buzzkill.

This was the dreaded fourth in five nights game and it showed for Oklahoma City. Call it running out of gas, call it playing shorthanded, but the Thunder just didn’t have enough against the rested, veteran Spurs, dropping a second straight, 95-87.

First, let’s get the Durant streak stuff out of the way. Twenty-nine straight games of 25 points or more is just unreal. We all had visions of this thing lasting forever because KD just scores with ease. It’s almost effortless. Some guys labor for points. Durant puts up 31 on 12-17 shooting like it’s nothing.

I definitely never thought KD’s streak was distracting to himself or teammates. But it was DEFINITELY distracting to me. It’s all I thought about. I’d be staring at the box score constantly worrying about it. Cripes, just 17 with 6:50 left in the third. PICK IT UP KD! I always hoped he’d gets his 25th point in the third quarter because then I wouldn’t have to worry about that AND the actual game during the fourth. Just too much for this Thunder fan’s heart. I kind of feel like Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive after he catches Dr. Richard Kimble. Harrison Ford says, “But it’s over now” and Jones replies, “You know I’m glad. I need the rest.” I wanted the streak to last forever and ever. But now I don’t have look at the box score ever 15 seconds. I need the rest.

And it’s funny, Durant had 21 points and 12 rebounds tonight, a pretty fantastic game for anyone not named Kevin Durant, yet we’re disappointed. The bad part about it is, 17 of those points came in the first half and zero in the fourth quarter. So if I’m doing my math correctly here, that’s just four in the second half, all in the third. And that’s what ultimately cost the Thunder. Russell Westbrook had 13 points in the fourth quarter but the team only had 20. Nobody could make a shot tonight (39.8 percent from the field). Just one of those nights.

Westbrook carried the Thunder offense for a stretch in the fourth, but wound up 6-21 from the floor. He did have seven assists and six rebounds, but I guess he felt the need to shoulder the load a bit. He got carried away in stretches, really forcing things. At times, he’s almost too dynamic and athletic for his own good. The offense was just stagnant with too much dribbling and too much standing around. The Thunder offense is at its best when people are moving, cutting, screening and passing. Westbrook can create shots at will but when he forces things too much, everything just goes to hell. Again, not saying he was necessarily bad because his 6-21 shooting includes a horrific 0-7 start and without him OKC might not be in this at all. It’s just that he fell a little in love with his own number late in the game. That’s all.

Notes:

If you love the NBA and don’t hate Manu Ginobili, you’re either a Spurs fan or you suck at life. In the pregame, I said, “In two games Manu Ginobili is 0-18 against the Thunder. So expect him to explode for 35 on 10-12 shooting.” Ginobili’s line: 26 points on 9-18 shooting. I continue to hate you and your annoying bald spot Manu.

The Spurs went small to start the fourth and Scott Brooks responded with Maynor, Westbrook, Harden, Thabo and Durant. Thabo at the four and Durant at the five. Kind of a fun lineup to watch.

Thabo was a little more aggressive on the offensive end than usual. He notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds and was 5-8 from the floor. And for the most part, he played some pretty fantastic defense.

OKC killed itself again at the free throw line. The Thunder missed eight (16-24) and worst of all, KD only got there six times. If you want a reason the streak ended, look there first. He’s been getting to stripe 10-11 times during this run.

Serge Ibaka sat this one out with a sore back and Nick Collison rested an injury too. So the Thunder was extremely shorthanded down low. But the team did an excellent job on the glass as a full unit. The starters grabbed 12, 13, 4, 8 and 6 rebounds with James Harden reeling in seven off the bench.

Byron Mullens saw a little burn in the first half because of the injuries. Zeroes across the board in two minutes of play. In a word, he looked tentative.

The Thunder clearly had a plan to push the pace a bit tonight. More transition, especially in the first half, than usual.

Jeff Green had a quiet solid night. Nineteen points and four rebounds along with some excellent hustle.

Does anyone have any theories as to why Nenad Krstic shoots the ball so much better in the third quarter? Does he urinate on his hands at halftime? Change shoes? Say some kind of magical prayer? He went 0-5 in the first half for zero points. The third quarter, he’s 3-4 with eight points. I don’t get it.

I can tell you this, if I see the Cox commercial that goes, “Hey man, you’re a friend you know. Where you’ve been, or where you go. Floating doow-owwwn, a slow moving stream. You know where you are…” one more time, I will either drag my TV outside and back over it with my car or stick my arm down the garbage disposal. I haven’t decided yet.

How good is Jeff Green at avoiding charges while being in mid-air? It’s just extremely impressive the way a guy 6’9 can control his body like that.

If this year was an audition to decide between Elyssa Walker-Campbell and Tom Werme, Werme has my vote. He’s great on the sideline and he doesn’t ask incredibly awkward questions with his eyes being opened super-wide.

DeJuan Blair is a nice rebounder, he really is. But man, he really gets away with subtle pushes. But that’s what great rebounders do, I guess.

What’s the deal with the Thunder and giving up coast-to-coast layups at the end of the third quarter? I mean, WHAT’S THE DEAL?

Here’s what makes absolutely no sense to me and we’ve seen it a lot lately: When an official under the basket makes an out of bounds call one way and then the other team freaks out and then the official looks to the other ref allllll the way out by halfcourt, says something probably along the lines of, “Did you see Tim Duncan’s face? He looked mad. Let’s change it.” And then they swap the call. I don’t get this.

Everyone kind of had a feeling this one might go this way. It’s not a bad loss by any means. Again, a tired Thunder squad against a rested Spurs team. OKC was coming off an emotional loss where its streak was snapped. San Antonio was returning home after a long road tilt. Honestly, I’m kind of impressed the Thunder hung so tough and kept the energy level so high throughout. Players were on the floor, taking charges and diving for lose balls. OKC was shorthanded without Ibaka and Collison, yet they hung tough on the glass, actually outrebounding the Spurs. This loss is certainly forgivable. Now a loss Friday at home to Minnesota on the other hand, well that’s kind of must-win.

Remember this is just one loss. It doesn’t count for more than that. And here’s some news: The Thunder will lose again this year. What, you expected them to win out?

I have always hated Manu. Thank you so much and letting me know I am normal! Geez we are going to have to change our tone if he becomes a Thunder player.I'm very very sad about losing last night. I did think we could go on winning for the rest of the season! Those sinking feelings have started again, but I'm thinking positive that we will go to that place we can't talk about.

++++ on Manu hating. The Spurs to a man never comitted a foul and are the biggest whiners/flopers in the NBA, despite getting more than their share of calls. (Duncan and Parker run a close second to MG) I agree that the Thunder are built/modeled similar to the Spurs but you just don't see all the poor sportmanship that is endemic with the Spurs. Hopefully, we never will. Go Thunder!!

Thabo was freaking outstanding! He grabbed some terrific rebounds and made 12 points. That guy justin should shut his mouth! Its like he hates all our players and coaches. He said the thunder played terrible offense and something about not listening to Brooks in practice. DUDE, THEY DIDNT PRACTICE SINCE A WEEK OR SO! 4th GAME IN 5 DAYS ITS NORMAL THAT YOUR OFFENSIVE CREATIVITY GOES DOWN! So please, if you wanna always moan the keep it for yourself. Criticism is well welcomed here but not for every single thing.

another kinda solid game by maynor... didnt do too much but didnt hurt the team...and i think thabo mightve heard that i wanted to trade him forluc richard mbah a moute and responded well.... whoda thought

The Zombies with learn from thier mistakes in this game. They always play the Spurs tough and I like how everyone kinda hates the Spurs but the Zombies are clones of the Spurs in a way. Geez only 21 for KD tonite, now that the streaks are over we can start another streak! I do think that they could win out. Will they? Probbly not, but I seriously think they could. Now some much needed rest is in store for the team, I expect them to come out and destroy Minnesota Friday.

Manu's actually a lot different from those white American subpar athletes. He's both crafty and a surprisingly freakish athlete. He will throw it down in traffic. And he's got a flair and style to his game akin to the Latin soccer players. I like him a lot.

He might be an interesting free agent signing if you could get him for 3M or so for 3 years.

I am as well a Manu fan. He is a very crafty player who finds ways to get his shots off without depending on being a freak athlete. As a not very athletic 25 year old white guy, I can appreciate this. But just like any white guy who gets by on intelligence and work ethic (Laettner,Hansbrough, Manu, Reddick and anyone from dook), there will be people that really hate him. I've never truly understood this.

As for last night's game, Thabo was outstanding. That's one of his best games this year.

Russell was just lazy running the team. He can get that elbow jumper anytime he wants, at any point in the shot clock. It's half his fault for taking that shot 112 times in a row without passing once. It's partly his teammates for just standing there watching him, and then standing there watching the Spurs work for the rebound. It's partly the staff's fault for allowing this to continue.

Russell wasn't the only lazy player, KD wasn't aggressive going to the bucket. That last shot he took from 39 feet out... there was plenty of time on the clock, he had dribble space, but he didn't make a move.

Maybe it was fatigue. I think it was as much mental fatigue as anything.

But, nothing like a two game losing streak to get you motivated for another win.

For those who said GS wouldn't part with Biedrins easily. Here is an article from ESPN, which suggests that if Don Nelson is still with the team this summer he might be had cheaper. STILL not saying he's the answer but saying we should look at every possibility. Obviously, the article brings up some downsides to him, but I think if he played on a GOOD team that cared about winning it'd be different for him, especially if he had specific roles.

"Warriors head coach Don Nelson called out Andris Biedrins for the second day in a row due to his lack of passion on the floor.

"I've bent over backwards with (Biedrins) trying to be positive," Nelson told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Whatever he's going through, he's not the same player this year as the last couple -- or the same player that got him the big contract. Whatever it is, he's got to get the passion back. I can't do that. ... Give us something. I mean, rebounding is one part of the game. You need more than that. Good defensive presence. The running skills. Good pick-setting. Good passing. We need a lot of things from our (centers) other than rebounding."

Some think Biedrins is afraid to get fouled since he's shooting only 13 percent from the free throw line, but he says the lack of confidence comes from the groin/abdomen injury that kept him out for seven weeks."

@TomWell, NO SOUP FOR YOU! The Hollinger Playoff Odds have the Thunder as a 96% chance of making it in.

The Spurs and Blazers are both 5-5 their last ten games. The two teams with the best chance of knocking anybody out of the playoff picture, Houston and New Orleans, lost again last night. Who exactly is racheting up their intensity?

No playoffs for Thunder this year. The veteran playoff teams have racheted up the intensity and effort, whereas the Thunder having not seen the postseason in many years are beginning to wilt under the pressure of competing for a playoff spot

I HATE MANU GINOBILI. I've hated him since he helped knock out the Sonics in the 2nd round of the playoffs a few years ago. Flopping little bitch. Thanks guys for posting those Youtube links.

I don't think there's a basketball player on this planet that I hate more. Actually, there is one. His name is Kobe. But Euro-trash Ginobili is definitely 2nd. (I know he's not from Europe, but Argentianian-trash Ginobili doesn't sound as good)

andrew :This is way off topic, but we are kinda sorta discussing Manu so I think its ok… Why can’t the NBA fine people for flopping? Start charging players 2 games pay when they have a flop as egregious as the one below.. The fines could become progressively worse as certain players had more and more. With all of the cameras on the court 99% of these can be accurately diagnosed as a flop. Plays like this do absolutely nothing for the quality of games and they are very hard for refs to sniff out when they happen..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEef1T_lqwA&NR=1

In hockey, when a player is tripped and embellishes the call, they call a penalty on both the player that did the "tripping" and the one that exaggerated the fall. One penalty for tripping and one for unsportsmanlike conduct. They should apply this to the NBA and have both players charged with a foul in that instance

After going back and watching Byron Mullen's couple of minutes of play, he never really got any opportunity to do anything. He made a few defensive mistakes, but he also did some things well. He blocked out fairly well on defense and tipped a few balls in the right direction, even if he didn't get the rebound himself.

On offense, he never got a touch. Several times he sealed off right inside the paint on Dejuan Blair, and once or twice on Michael Finley, and we never got him the ball. Also, at least 3 or 4 times, maybe more, we missed WIDE OPEN opportunities to lob him the ball for the slam. I hope the guys get a chance to see the missed chances and, if he gets another opportunity, we take advantage. Typically, on offense, we were trying to iso KD, so BJ moved to the opposite baseline to clear that side of the floor, so he never was able to get in good position for any offensive boards. He almost came up with one, but there were 3 or 4 spurs guys in his way. One thing I found reassuring, it seems like he's learning from Nick how to set screens. He set a couple of really nice picks, and a few were off the ball to screen a defender for an open look on the perimeter. Honestly, with the exception of the couple of defensive mistakes where he looked really unsure what to do, he didn't play that bad. I really hope we get some more looks from him. It's really hard to be on top of your game when you only play once every 15 games, and it's only for a few minutes.

Dude i mean KD knows but we do not get to go until we see as well considering this game is one we know but do we. I mean it does not forgive but it lets give but we know 2 in a row sucks yes but its ok cause eventually all plans line considering 17-24 shooting ok look its just what we know but its not what he knows. Its all good and our kids will know...DURANTULA!

i like manu cuz he's a veryy shifty player and he kills bats if his shot isn't going down.........also the have a thing for steaks so they got a decent chance at winning the rest of their games.....that would be lovely

This is way off topic, but we are kinda sorta discussing Manu so I think its ok... Why can't the NBA fine people for flopping? Start charging players 2 games pay when they have a flop as egregious as the one below.. The fines could become progressively worse as certain players had more and more. With all of the cameras on the court 99% of these can be accurately diagnosed as a flop. Plays like this do absolutely nothing for the quality of games and they are very hard for refs to sniff out when they happen..

I agree about Mullens. The kid has the physical potential and the necessary skills, but he is still very much a project. He's only 20 years old. He looked very much, as you said, tentative tonight. He looked like he was trying to run through things on offense, it just kept him out of position to get offensive boards. One thing about his offense: I really wish they would have lobbed it to him any one of the many times he went streaking down the lane unguarded. He was calling for it, but they never got him the ball. He was in position for an oop several times and they never found him.

Defensively, he didn't get much chance to do anything here. The pick and roll was tearing him apart. I'm sure he was really confused about what to do in certain situations, which is why he got dunked on and had a 3 point play against him. It's ok, though, the spurs have many guys that would do that to a majority of big men in the NBA. Manu and TP fly by big men for buckets ALL the time. That pick and roll with either Manu or TP is deadly.

All in all, he didn't get much time to get comfortable out there. I still have a lot of hope for him. I really wish they had given him so run in the pick and pop. He's shown a nice ability to hit that midrange jumper. He also would have been a nice little iso on the baseline.

On another side note, how about that 1 hand no look pass from Jeff Green to Thabo(I think)? Very nice.

Ginobili has always been a very intelligent player.. Harden this year-not so much... I think Ginobili just has better instincts and feel for the game than Harden does.. And i dont know if that will change.. Long story short, I dont like the Harden -Ginobili comparisons..

By the way, I'm sure someone mentioned it in the comments for this morning's Bolts, but the hoopdata.com stat on Harden's shooting percentage at the rim was a great find.

I've been talking with a couple of friends lately regarding how it feels like he'll have games where he gets to the rim but doesn't exactly know what to do when he gets there. Sometimes he'll do it 2 or 3 times per game, and I was trying to keep telling myself that getting there is the hard part and that he will learn how to finish. I'm glad to see it looks like the data backs that up and that others agree.

With a little more research, it seems his FG% is 39% and his 3PT% is 38%. It seems strange that he isn't any more efficient inside the arc than beyond it, but hopefully that will be a point of focus in the off-season.

Its just very very exhausting to be a die hard fan of an NBA team. I always watched the NBA, but mainly rooted for individual players. Since the Thunder have gotten here, I have become that die hard fan that gets pumped up after each win and upset after each loss. Its tough and very exhausting. I can only imagine what it does to the players.

Sorry. I'm still sort of a Spurs fan. I can't completely turn my back on my first love. But I realize that Manu, like his former teammate Bruce Bowen is the type of player that you hate unless they're on your team. But Ginobili's basketball IQ, incredible passing, and defensive timeliness are why I love him.

I could get blasted for an awful comparison, but I would love our own southpaw to pattern parts of his game after Manu. That's right - I like Harden for similar reasons that I've enjoyed watching Ginobili over the years (see above for the exact same reasons), and when he grows into more of a feature roll - and learns to finish at the rim - I think he has a chance to impact a game as much as Ginobili.

OK, I'm sorry for comparing our rookie darling with big bad Ginobili, but I had to mention it. Carry on.

The Spurs just expose our weaknesses defensively. Add that to the fact that one of our best defensive players (Collison) and our shot blocking specialist (Ibaka) were out, you then get a mediocre defensive showing (+10). It was +11 at the half, so it was obviously bad in the second half. The Spurs rotate the ball WELL. They have a guy that forces double teams (Duncan). They have a second guy that has a mismatch with us down low (Blair). They have two guys that can break down our guards (Parker, Manu). Parker didn’t do much tonight, but Manu obviously did. We had no answer for him.

During the time frame that both Mullens and Krstic were out, we were forced to put Durant on Blair or Duncan. This left us with more double team and rotation issues. Throw in the usual lackluster defensive transition from Russell Westbrook, and we were lucky to be in it late.

Eric Maynor (+9)

I did like Maynor tonight. In limited time, he protected the lane, took a charge, contested four shots, picked up a loose ball, and had one steal. He also committed no errors. I like the fact that Brooks is willing to play the two point guards together for small stretches as of late.

I will give Manu props for one thing: he once slapped a bat out of mid-air in a game because the security/animal control guys couldn't get it. He was even rushed into the locker room to be tested for rabies. Anyone with that good of a story as to why he could be nicknamed Batman can't be all bad, except when he plays my team.